UPDATE 5/23: “I can confirm there is a deal in place. BLUFF continues to be optimistic about the momentum building in California for iPoker legislation in the near future,” Steve “Chops” Preiss, VP, Business Development, BLUFF told OPR.

Original story follows

Churchill Downs has entered into an agreement with card rooms Oceans 11and Crystal Casinoto partner for online poker should a bill pass to legalize and regulate the activity in California, OPR has learned.

Churchill, home to one of the few truly iconic brands in gaming – the Kentucky Derby – currently operates one of the leading online horse racing wagering sites in TwinSpires.com.

The company has long signaled their intention to enter the regulated online poker and casino space, but has to date remained absent from the markets in New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. Churchill is understood to have an online wagering platform that can support poker in its portfolio.

Churchill and Oceans 11 join a variety of already-announced partnerships angling to capture a share of California’s regulated online poker market, worth over $300mm in annual revenue according to OPR’s analysis.

Amaya has announced their intention to work with an array of partners including Morongo, San Manuel and card rooms Commerce, The Bike and Hawaiian Gardens.

United Auburn and bwin.party have a long-standing arrangement to cooperate should California launch a regulated online poker market.